AFTER embracing the culture shock of China and the experience of playing in the desert heat of Qatar, Yakubu is now back in England and aiming to fill a glaring gap on footballing CV.

The Reading striker suffered a 4-0 defeat to Sevilla in the 2006 UEFA Cup final playing for Middlesbrough, before an injury forced him to watch Everton's 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Chelsea from the Wembley stands as he was again denied his chance to lift silverware.

His winning goal at Derby in the previous round has left Reading on the brink of a first FA Cup semi-final since 1927, with a trip to Bradford today the only obstacle in their way.

Ninety-six top-flight goals ranks Yakubu above the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dennis Berkgkamp and Fernando Torres in the all-time stakes and a Wembley date would surely act as a fitting reward for his contribution to goalscoring in England, having returned from two-and-a-half years abroad to sign for Royal boss Steve Clark at the beginning of last month.

His career on these shores began when Sir Alex Ferguson recommended him to then Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp and the powerful Nigerian initially joined on loan, before signing permanently from Israeli side Maccabi Haifa at the end of the 2002-03 season.

"Even when you play against the big teams, he makes you believe like you can kill a defender," Yakubu recalled of Redknapp's influence.

"Even in your head, if you're scared, like you're going to play against Sol Campbell, he'd say, 'Sol Campbell? He's s***, don't worry'. He makes you believe that when you go on to the pitch you have confidence that you are the best."

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Yakubu played for Portsmouth from 2003 to 2005

Redknapp's words and the goals that followed at Middlesbrough, Everton, Blackburn and Leicester gave Yakubu the confidence to try his luck in China when he signed for Guangzhou R&F in 2012. It was never likely to be an easy ride, but a challenge he relished anyway.

"It was hard," he said. "We had a Brazilian coach who had to translate into English and then another guy was there, he had to translate from Portuguese to Chinese. The manager is supposed to speak for like five minutes, but you are there for, say, nine minutes with the translating.

"It's so difficult to speak to these guys because some of them, they don't speak English, so it's hard. You don't know how to tell them to pass the ball. You just scream at them."

Before I retire I hope I can win a trophy – that is missing

Yakubu

His language problems eased with the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson, who he rates as highly as anybody he has worked under at 12 clubs across six different countries.

"I worked with him at Leicester and again in Guangzhou," he adds. "It was easy, he is one of the best managers I have ever worked with.

"He is really, really calm. He doesn't put too much pressure on players, he just wants them to enjoy the game."

But another lucrative offer came his way in January of last year and he jumped ship to Qatari club Al Rayyan.

"In Qatar they can get a good World Cup," he said. "They have nice stadiums. When it is hot, it is really hot there but I believe they can host the World Cup.

"We had to train at 9.30 at night. You finish training at about 12 and then go home at 12.30 or 1, then go to bed at about 4.

"You have to stay home all day because it is really, really hot. You cannot train in the morning or afternoon."

A dip in the pool might have eased the discomfort of the 50 degree heat but it was not an option for the 32-year-old.

"I am scared of water, really scared," he explained. "I will get a teacher to teach me as I cannot swim."

He has never given up hope of learning to swim and now back in England over 12 years after he started, he still believes this year's FA Cup can finally provide him with that elusive trophy.

"That is missing," he added. "A trophy will be great but everywhere I went we tried. Before I retire I hope I lift one."